Impact of Full Subject-Based Banding on Social Mixing

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang, Nee Soon GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry is studying how effective subject-based banding, where secondary school students learn each subject at the level that best caters to their strengths, interests and learning needs, has been on social mixing in schools; (b) if so, what are the Ministry’s findings so far; and (c) if not, whether the Ministry will start studying this.

Response

1. Full Subject-Based Banding, or Full SBB, was implemented in secondary schools starting with the Secondary 1 cohort in 2024. Based on the experiences of students in Full SBB pilot schools starting in 2020, Full SBB has enabled secondary students to interact more regularly with a more diverse group of students. Students spend around one-third of their curriculum time with peers of different academic profiles in mixed form classes, during common subjects such as Art and Character Citizenship Education.
2. Students in these pilot schools reported that they had a wider and more diverse network of friends, as well as more positive attitudes toward peers from different backgrounds. School leaders and teachers also observed that their students were taking greater ownership of their learning and were more motivated to overcome challenges they face.
3. We are heartened to see these early positive outcomes arising from the hard work by school leaders and teachers in implementing Full SBB, with the support of parents. MOE will continue to monitor the outcomes from Full SBB, and provide the necessary support to schools and teachers.